Find Articles using keywords

6108+ evidence-based Articles & Reports

Few, if any, plants have been revered as thoroughly -- by the religious and scientific community alike -- as a healer of the human body, mind and soul, as beautiful turmeric.

Turmeric's Healing Power: A Physical Manifestation of Compassion?
Few, if any, plants have been revered as thoroughly -- by the religious and scientific community alike -- as a healer of the human body, mind and soul, as beautiful turmeric.
It could be written off as an overly imaginative cultural oddity that ancient Indians understood turmeric to be the physical essence of the Divine Mother -- a botanical embodiment of compassion and healing. After all, nothing in the known biochemistry of this common spice plant lends itself to so gratuitous a characterization, does it?
It turns out that even modern science now confirm that this 'curry' spice has therapeutic properties relevant to well over 600 different health conditions, and may therefore bestow on those who take it significant protection from many common causes of human suffering. Some of the more amazing examples are its ability to reverse aspects of dementia (Alzheimer's disease), replace Prozac, prevent type 2 diabetes, produce cardiovascular benefits as significant as exercise, including preventing post-bypass heart attack by 56%, heal the diabetic liver, kill lethal pancreatic cancer, and help kick painkillers to the curb for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, while giving at least a dozen more pharmaceuticals a run for their money.While these examples are not proof of 'divine' benevolence, they certainly raise some interesting questions, not the least of which is how any substance could be so well suited...

There is a medicinal spice so timelessly interwoven with the origins of human culture and metabolism, so thoroughly supported by modern scientific inquiry, as to be unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being.

There is a medicinal spice so timelessly interwoven with the origins of human culture and metabolism, so thoroughly supported by modern scientific inquiry, as to be unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being.
Indeed, turmeric turns the entire drug-based medical model on its head. Instead of causing more side effects than therapeutic ones – which you can read any drug insert to see is a universally true phenomenon and which ensures the infinite expansion of the pharmaceutical market and all the associated medical services – it has several hundred potential side benefits.
While no food or herb is right for everyone, and everything has the potential for unintended, adverse side effects, turmeric is truly unique in its exceptionally high margin of safety vis-à-vis the drugs it has been compared with, e.g. hydrocortisone, ibuprofen, chemotherapy agents. Furthermore, nothing within the modern-day pharmaceutical armamentarium comes even remotely close to turmeric's 6,000 year track record of safe use in Ayurvedic medicine.[1]
Despite its vast potential for alleviating human suffering, turmeric will never receive the FDA stamp of approval, due to its lack of exclusivity, patentability and therefore profitability. Truth be told, the FDA's "gold standard" for proving the value of a prospective medicinal substance betrays the age old aphorism: "he who owns the gold makes the rules," and unless an investor is willing to risk losing the 800+ million dollars...

Groundbreaking new research published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand found that curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, is capable of repairing and even regenerating the liver tissues of diabetic rats.

Groundbreaking new research published in the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand found that curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, is capable of repairing and even regenerating the liver tissues of diabetic rats.
The research was performed at Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, Thailand. The administration of curcumin to diabetic rats, whose livers showed the characteristic pathology and destruction of liver tissues and microvasculature, resulted in significant reversal of the condition.
They noted:
Fascinatingly, liver microvasculature in curcumin treated group developed into regenerate and repair into healthy and normal characteristics." They concluded: "These results optimistically demonstrated the potential use of curcumin as a novel therapeutic agent in liver pathology of diabetic rats.
Curcumin is actually one of the world's most thoroughly studied and well-characterized natural compounds, with over 5100 references in peer-reviewed publications. Over 1400 of these have been selected for inclusion in our database, and indicate its value in over 500 health conditions. Considering its remarkably wide range of therapeutic benefits, it is not surprising that curcumin has been researched to either prevent or treat, liver disease. For example, you can view 36 studies on curcumin's anti-liver cancer properties here: curcumin liver cancer. Perhaps even more impressive are these 78 studies on curcumin's liver-protective properties:...

A new clinical study on the turmeric spice compound curcumin indicates that this ancient spice may soon be elevated to a cutting-edge medicine, as it was found capable of reducing post-bypass heart attacks by 56%.

A remarkable study performed at Chiang Mai University, Thailand and published in the American Journal of Cardiology last July, found that the administration of curcuminoids, natural phenols within the spice turmeric, reduced the frequency of myocardial infarction (heart attack) after coronary artery bypass in a group of 121 patients randomly selected to receive a placebo or 4 grams a day beginning 3 days before the scheduled surgery and continued until 5 days after surgery.[i]
According to the study, "it is well established that myocardial infarction (MI) associated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) predicts a poor outcome. Nevertheless, cardioprotective therapies to limit myocardial injury after CABG are lacking." The researchers hypothesized that since preclinical research shows curcuminoids decrease proinflammatory cytokines during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery and decrease the occurrence of cardiac cell death, they may provide a much-needed therapy.
The primary end point was the incidence of in-hospital myocardial infarction, which was found to be decreased from 30.0% in the placebo group to 13.1% in the curcuminoid group -- a 56% relative risk reduction.
The secondary end point was the effect of curcuminoids on C-reactive protein, plasma maondialdehyde, and N-terminal pro-B-type naturietic peptide levels, all of which were lower after treatment.
The study authors concluded: "we demonstrated that curcuminoids significantly decreased MI associated with...

Millions take anti-inflammatory drugs every day for arthritis and related conditions, but are completely unaware that far safer, and at least as effective, natural alternative already exist -- and are as easily accessible and inexpensive as the spices found in your kitchen cupboard.

Millions take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) daily for arthritis and related inflammatory conditions, but are completely unaware that far safer, and at least as effective, natural alternatives already exist -- and are as easily accessible and inexpensive as the spices found in your kitchen cupboard.
Human research on the health benefits of turmeric is sparse, mainly due to the lack of capital available to fund expensive clinical trials.[i] Despite many decades of investigation as a lead drug compound, and the availability of thousands of preclinical studies indicating turmeric's therapeutic value, few yet realize that this common kitchen spice may provide a suitable drug alternative for common health conditions.
The latest human study to clinically confirm turmeric's medicinal value was published in the Indonesian Journal of Internal Medicine in April, 2012 and found the curcuminoid extract of turmeric was able to reduce inflammation in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis.
Researchers compared the effect of a curcuminoid extract to the NSAID drug diclofenac sodium in reducing cycloxygenase -2 (COX-2) secretion by synovial fluid's monocytes in two, randomly divided, groups suffering with knee osteoarthritis.
The synovial fluid is an egg yolk-like liquid within the cavities of the synovial joints, which serves to reduce friction between articular cartilage during movement. In knee osteoarthritis, a condition that afflicts 1 in 2 people by...

Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies.

Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects. This entire database of 1,585 ncbi-hyperlinked turmeric abstracts can be downloaded as a PDF at our Downloadable Turmeric Document page, and acquired either as a retail item or with 200 GMI-tokens, for those of you who are already are members and receive them automatically each month.
Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications, including:
Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R & D found that a standardized preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared favorably to the drug atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial dysfunction, the underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives atherosclerosis, in association with reductions in inflammation and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. [i] [For addition curcumin and 'high cholesterol' research – 8 abstracts]
Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A...

Nothing can replace exercise, but turmeric extract does a pretty good job of producing some of the same cardiovascular health benefits, most notably in women undergoing age-associated adverse changes in arterial health.

Nothing can replace exercise, but turmeric extract does a pretty good job of producing some of the same cardiovascular health benefits, most notably in women undergoing age-associated adverse changes in arterial health.
Despite the general lack of interest by conventional medical practitioners in turmeric's role in preventing heart disease, there is a robust body of published research on its remarkable cardioprotective properties, with three dozen study abstracts on the topic available to view on our database alone: turmeric's cardioprective properties.
Last year, we reported on a study published in the American Journal of Cardiology that found turmeric extract reduces post-bypass heart attack risk by 56%. Now, we would like to bring attention to a remarkable study published in the journal Nutrition Research in 2012 that revealed that curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric and which gives the spice its golden hue, is as effective in improving vascular function in postmenopausal women as a moderate aerobic exercise training regimen. [1]
The 8-week long study involved 32 postmenopausal women who were assigned into 3 groups: a non-treatment control, exercise, and curcumin. Researchers ascertained the health of the inner lining of their blood vessels (known as the endothelium) by using ultrasound to measure flow-mediated arterial dilation, a well-known indicator of arterial elasticity and therefore endothelial function. A disturbance of the endothelial function is...

Turmeric has been used in India for over 5,000 years, which is likely why still today both rural and urban populations have some of the lowest prevalence rates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the world. A recent study on patients with AD found that less than a gram of turmeric daily, taken for three months, resulted in 'remarkable improvements.'

Turmeric has been used in India for over 5,000 years, which is likely why still today both rural and urban populations have some of the lowest prevalence rates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the world. A recent study on patients with AD found that less than a gram of turmeric daily, taken for three months, resulted in 'remarkable improvements.'
Alzheimer's Disease: A Disturbingly Common Modern Rite of Passage
A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), sadly, has become a rite of passage in so-called developed countries. AD is considered the most common form of dementia, which is defined as a serious loss of cognitive function in previously unimpaired persons, beyond what is expected from normal aging.
A 2006 study estimated that 26 million people throughout the world suffer from this condition, and that by 2050, the prevalence will quadruple, by which time 1 in 85 persons worldwide will be afflicted with the disease.[1]
Given the global extent of the problem, interest in safe and effective preventive and therapeutic interventions within the conventional medical and alternative professions alike are growing.
Unfortunately, conventional drug-based approaches amount to declaring chemical war upon the problem, a mistake which we have documented elsewhere, and which can result in serious neurological harm, as evidenced by the fact that this drug class carries an alarmingly high risk for seizures, according to World Health Organization post-marketing surveillance...

There is a medicinal spice so timelessly interwoven with the origins of human culture and metabolism, so thoroughly supported by modern scientific inquiry, as to be unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being.

There is a medicinal spice so timelessly interwoven with the origins of human culture and metabolism, so thoroughly supported by modern scientific inquiry, as to be unparalleled in its proven value to human health and well-being.
Indeed, turmeric turns the entire drug-based medical model on its head. Instead of causing far more side effects than therapeutic ones, as is the case for most patented pharmaceutical medications, turmeric possesses hundreds of potential side benefits, having been empirically demonstrated to positively modulate over 160 different physiological pathways in the mammalian body.
While no food or herb is right for everyone, and everything has the potential for unintended, adverse side effects, turmeric is truly unique in its exceptionally high margin of safety vis-à-vis the drugs it has been compared with, e.g. hydrocortisone, ibuprofen, chemotherapy agents. Furthermore, nothing within the modern-day pharmaceutical armamentarium comes even remotely close to turmeric's 6,000 year track record of safe use in Ayurvedic medicine.[1]
Despite its vast potential for alleviating human suffering, turmeric will likely never receive the FDA stamp of approval, due to its lack of exclusivity, patentability and therefore profitability. Truth be told, the FDA's "gold standard" for proving the value of a prospective medicinal substance betrays the age old aphorism: "he who owns the gold makes the rules," and unless an investor is willing to risk losing the...

New research reveals that as little as 3 grams of fermented turmeric powder daily can significantly reduce elevated liver enzymes within 12 weeks. And this is far from the first study revealing this amazing spice's ability to protect and repair the damaged and diseased liver.

You know turmeric has health benefits, most notably reducing inflammation, but did you know it may also protect and heal the damaged and diseased liver?
A new clinical trial published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine is shedding light on turmeric's remarkable liver protective and regenerative properties.[1]
South Korean researchers at the Clinical Trial Center for Functional Foods, Chonbuk National University Hospital, tested their hypothesis that turmeric may improve liver function by administering a fermented form to subjects, 20 years old and above, who were diagnosed mild to moderate elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a maker for liver damage and/or dysfunction.
Sixty subjects were randomized to receive 3.0 g per fermented turmeric powder (FTP) or placebo 3.0 g per day for 12 weeks. The treatment group received two capsules of FTP three times a day after meals, for 12 weeks.
What were the results?
Not only did FTP significantly reduce ALT levels in subjects but also reduced serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), two additional enzymes which when elevated are commonly associated with liver damage. The effects were maintained as long as the subjects remained on the treatment. Also, FTP was well tolerated and without significant adverse effects.
This study adds additional weight to a rather vast body of preclinical research that has accumulated over the past two decades confirming turmeric and...

A groundbreaking new clinical study proves that the turmeric extract known as curcumin is at least as effective as Prozac in treating serious depression. When one factors in the lack of side effects associated with the use of curcumin, it is not unreasonable to call the spice extract superior.

A new study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research has confirmed for the first time in a randomized, controlled clinical trial that the primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin is both safe and effective in treating serious states of depression.[1]
The research was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Government Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, and involved patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). The objective of the trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of curcumin with fluoxetine (Prozac) in 60 patients diagnosed with MDD. Subjects were randomized to receive either a six week treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg) and curcumin (1000 mg) individually or their combination.
Success of the treatment was evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D17). The results were reported as follows:
We observed that curcumin was well tolerated by all the patients. The proportion of responders as measured by the HAM-D17 scale was higher in the combination group (77.8%) than in the fluoxetine [Prozac] (64.7%) and the curcumin (62.5%) groups; however, these data were not statistically significant (P = 0.58). Interestingly, the mean change in HAM-D17 score at the end of six weeks was comparable in all three groups (P = 0.77). This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other...

A remarkable human clinical study published in the journal Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, revealed that turmeric extract was 100% successful at preventing prediabetic patients from becoming diabetic over the course of a 9-month intervention.

A remarkable human clinical study published in the journal Diabetes Care, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, revealed that turmeric extract was 100% successful at preventing prediabetic patients from becoming diabetic over the course of a 9-month intervention.[1]
Performed by Thailand researchers, the study's primary object was to assess the efficacy of curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric which gives the spice its golden hue, in delaying the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a prediabetic population.
The study design was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial including 240 subjects who met the American Diabetic Association's criteria for prediabetes. All subjects were randomly assigned to receive either 250 mg of curcuminoid or placebo capsules for 9 months.
Type 2 diabetes progression was assessed by measuring a wide range of parameters, including changes in the insulin-producing cells within the pancreas known as β-cells, insulin resistance, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine known as adiponectin, at four different times: baseline, 3-, 6-, and 9-month visits during the course of intervention.
The results were reported as follows:
"After 9 months of treatment, 16.4% of subjects in the placebo group were diagnosed with T2DM, whereas none were diagnosed with T2DM in the curcumin-treated group. In addition, the curcumin-treated group showed a better overall function of β-cells, with higher HOMA-β (61.58 vs....

Since ancient times, turmeric has been used for remedying oral ailments, among other therapeutic applications too numerous to count. Now, new research indicates this amazing spice is superior to chemical mouthwash in killing gingivitis associated bacteria.

Since ancient times, turmeric has been used for remedying oral ailments, among other therapeutic applications too numerous to count.[1] Consider that plants like turmeric were first eaten for thousands of years before our species ever devised the modern day oddity of encapsulated or tableted extracts that could be swallowed without significant oral contact. It is only logical, therefore, that after long stretches of biological time, taking the root orally as either food, spice or medicine, it would agree with and have benefit for that part of our anatomy and its unique physiology.
Indeed, recent research shows that turmeric extract and turmeric oil may even reverse precancerous changes in oral submucous fibrosis in humans.[2] [3] In addition, there are at least a dozen studies showing turmeric extract can kill oral cancer cells,[4] including a recent study showing that turmeric extract-loaded nanoparticles kill chemotherapy-resistant oral cancer cells.[5] But turmeric's positive role to play in oral health encompasses more than relatively rare health issues like oral cancer, as it also has tangible value to the vast majority of folks who use common mouthwash in an attempt to keep their mouth clean of plaque.
Turmeric contains approximately 3-4% curcumin by dry weight. This yellow pigmented polyphenol has been studied extensively in human clinical research as a natural alternative to the common mouthwash ingredient known as chlorhexidine for the...

Considering that the conventional treatment of advanced stage pancreatic cancer can result in as little as a 1% 5-year survival rate, new preclinical research on a liposomal turmeric extract that inhibits pancreatic tumor growth by 42% is all the more promising.

Considering that the conventional treatment of advanced stage pancreatic cancer can result in as little as a 1% 5-year survival rate, new preclinical research on a liposomal turmeric extract that inhibits pancreatic tumor growth by 42% is all the more amazing.
A promising new study published in the journal Anticancer Research, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the International Institute of Anticancer Research, reveals a unique turmeric extract known as liposomal curcumin may provide an ideal chemotherapy alternative in the treatment of highly lethal pancreatic cancers.[1]
Curcumin is the primarly polyphenol in turmeric, and has been the subject of extensive research demonstrating its ability to kill cancer cells, with over 1,500 studies available to view on Greenmedinfo.com relevant to over 100 distinct cancer types, including 24 studies demonstrating its anti-pancreatic cancer properties. [View all the curcumin studies.]
Liposomal curcumin utilizes a successful lipid-based drug delivery system, with some liposomal formulations having already received FDA approval. Owing to curcumin's low water solubility and subsequent low systemic bioavailability, its encapsulation into liposomes (artificially-prepared vesicle composed of a lipid bilayer) greatly improves its ability to gain entry into the body by passing through the 'glucoronidation barrier' in the liver.
Exocrine pancreatic cancer is notorious for responding poorly to conventional treatment, with...

Spot this valuable class of antioxidants in common foods and spices...Unravel the riddle of polyphenols.

Articles appear daily touting the benefits of blueberries, chocolate, red wine, olives, grape seeds/skin and thousands of other herbs, oils, extracts, spices and ferments. These are usually accompanied by strange words like quercetin, anthocyanins, flavonoids and tongue twisters like epigallocatechin that fly over the head of average people just trying to improve their health. Few look any further, much less review the actual chemistry involved.
Science is finally beginning to recognize the role of oxidative stress in all disease (yes, that includes cancers, heart, joint, diabetic and other conditions). Unless you zero-in on this concept you will wander the wilderness of medical literature and never find healing. As fully described in my previous GMI articles, antioxidants quantitatively oppose oxidative cell damage to restore functionality as part of an overall protocol.... And polyphenols are a particularly effective class of antioxidant that protects unsaturated fatty acids and cell membranes from crippling and unrelenting attack by highly destructive hydroxyl radicals.
The book Forbidden Healing translates and organizes basic cell physiology and chemistry into simple terms that can be applied inexpensively and effectively by physicians and the growing number of people seizing personal responsibility for their own well-being and survival. Conventional medicine fails to recognize or address the true cause of disease, so it is incumbent on the...

Turmeric has legendary status as a disease-fighting agent, but did you know that when administered in low doses to already healthy adults it significantly improves their wellness?

Over the years, there has been plenty of research performed on the value of natural substances in treating human diseases, but very little has been conducted on the effects of commonly used supplements and/or food components such as spices in already healthy people to improve their well-being.
All the more reason why a study published in 2012 in the Nutrition Journal titled, "Diverse effects of a low dose supplement of lapidated curcumin in healthy middle aged people,' holds great interest among those on the fence about using dietary supplements to improve the quality and perhaps length of their lives, but for which clinical proof is lacking.
The study was conducted in healthy middle aged people (40–60 years old) with a low dose of curcumin (80 mg/day) in a fat soluble (lipidated) form. Curcumin is the primary polyphenol found in turmeric (3% concentration by dry weight), which gives the root its bright saffron color. Two groups of 19 subjects were given either curcumin or placebo for 4 weeks. Blood and saliva samples were taken before and after the 4 weeks and analyzed for the following blood and saliva measures relevant to health promotion:
Blood plasma levels of triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations (mg/dl).
Blood plasma concentrations of nitric oxide and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (sICAM).
Blood plasma concentrations of myeloperoxidase (ng/ml) and C-reactive protein (mg/L x10).
Saliva activities of amylase (U/L) and...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful, debilitating and even life threatening condition without many known natural therapies proven effective. All that changed in 2012 when it was revealed a turmeric extract is superior to the blockbluster drug Diclofenac sodium in relieving the condition of those suffering with RA.

A highly promising pilot study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research[i] broke new ground in 2012 by identifying a safe and effective natural alternative to drug therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a painful and debilitating autoimmune disease that can lead to a substantial loss of mobility and function, if not adequately treated. While gradual disfiguration of flexible joints in the fingers are a characteristic sign of this disorder, RA has the potential to affect many tissues and organs by contributing to chronic, systemic inflammatory activity. Estimates are that RA activity beyond the joints, also known as extra-articular rheumatoid arthritis, affects 15-25% of all individuals afflicted by the condition.[ii]
Standard treatment often involves the use of pharmacological painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs intended to suppress symptoms but not alter the underlying trajectory of the disease. In some cases steroids, and even chemotherapy class drugs like methotrexate are employed, which carry serious if not also on rare occasion lethal side effects.
In the study titled, "A randomized, pilot study to assess the efficacy and safety of curcumin patients with active rheumatoid arthritis," forty-five patients diagnosed with RA were randomized into three groups with patients receiving curcumin (500 mg) and diclofenac sodium (50 mg) alone or their combination. Curcumin is the most thoroughly researched...

A new turmeric study published in Cancer Letters is paving the way for a revolution in the way that we both understand and treat cancer.

Don't forget to register for the groundbreaking documentary, The Truth About Cancer, featuring Sayer Ji in all but one episode. He will be speaking about cancer stem cells and their role in cancer and healing.
A new turmeric study published in Cancer Letters is paving the way for a revolution in the way that we both understand and treat cancer. Titled, "Targeting cancer stem cells by curcumin and clinical applications," U.S. researchers evaluated the primary polyphenol in the Indian spice known as curcumin for its ability to target cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are believed to be at the root cause of tumor formation and malignancy.
Whereas conventional models of cancer assumed that the majority of the cancer cells within a tumor possess self-renewal capacity to differing degrees, the CSC model proposes that, "[T]he initiation, maintenance, and growth of a tumor is driven by a minor population of cancer cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs)," and that "These CSCs undergo continuous self-renewal and differentiate to heterogeneous cancer cells, yielding new tumors recapitulating the parental tumors, while the majority of cancer cells lack self-renewal capacity."
In other words, the CSCs are at the apex of a hierarchy of cells within the tumor, and are the "mother" of the various daughter cells that make it up, most of which are intrinsically benign. Conventional treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, based on a rodent model with a 2-year experimental...

An amazing new study finds this ancient healing spice might have life-saving properties in diabetes.

"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest her or his patients in the care of the human frame, in a proper diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease." ~ Thomas Edison
A remarkable new study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry reveals the immense value of the ancient spice turmeric in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and the reversal of pathological states linked to its most deadly complication: atherosclerotic heart disease.
The new study titled, "Reduction of atherogenic risk in patients with type 2 diabetes by curcuminoid extract: a randomized controlled trial,"[i] dovetails nicely with a 2012 study published in the American Diabetes Association's own journal, Diabetes Care, which found turmeric 100% effective in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes in prediabetics over the course of a six month intervention with curcumin.[1]
In the new study, researchers from Thailand conducted a 6-month randomized, double-blinded and placebo-controlled clinical trial comprised of 226 subjects diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (mean duration of the disease ~ 6 years), equally divided into a treatment (113) and placebo group (113). They aimed to explore the role that the golden-hued polyphenol found in turmeric known as curcumin might play in preventing atherosclerosis, by measuring its effects on the following parameters of atherogenic risk:
Pulse Wave Velocity: a measure of arterial stiffness, which a...

Presently, there are not pharmaceutical interventions that effectively slow, and certainly not reverse, age-related cerebrovascular pathologies linked to conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and stroke. A new study on turmeric extract, however, indicates that a natural curative agent already exists and is close to the everyday consumer as their spice rack.

A promising new study published in Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry titled, "Dietary Curcumin Ameliorates Aging-Related Cerebrovascular Dysfunction through the AMPK/Uncoupling Protein 2 Pathway,"[i] reveals the primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin (which gives it its golden hue) may provide what the study authors describe as an "effective therapeutic strategy to reverse age-related cerebrovascular dysfunction."
Age-related cerebrovascular dysfunction is occurring on an epidemic scale in Western countries and include, "stroke, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases." Presently, very few if any conventional medical interventions are capable of providing effective solutions, and none have been found to reverse underlying pathologies in conditions whose trajectories are generally characterized as 'incurable.' All the more reason why the new study holds so much promise in providing an evidence-based natural solution that is safe, effective, affordable and easily accessible as a familiar food ingredient.
The study was conducted using a rat model. 24-month old male rodents were given dietary curcumin (.2%), with young control rodents 6-months of age. After one month of curcumin treatment, the researchers observed a 'remarkable restoration' of the impaired cerebrovascular endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation (i.e. the ability of the blood vessels to naturally relax) in the aging rats. They observed three distinct '...

A groundbreaking new study establishes that this popular kitchen spice is a viable alternative to ibuprofen in relieving suffering associated with knee osteoarthritis.

An exciting new clinical trial published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has revealed that an effective natural alternative to the exceedingly popular pharmaceutical painkiller ibuprofen exists for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA), and it is a familiar kitchen spice known to be far superior both in safety and the number of side benefits it confers to any drug in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug class.
Last year, in a Lancet review on the topic, ibuprofen was identified to be as toxic to the heart as the banned anti-inflammatory drug Vioxx, likely contributing to tens of thousands of deaths from cardiovascular disease each year. This is one of the reasons why evidence-based natural alternatives are extremely important, especially when they involve culinary spices that are already known to be safe, affordable, accessible and time-tested.
Titled, "Efficacy and Safety of Curcuma domestica Extracts in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis,"[i] the multi-center trial was conducted with 109 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis who were randomized to receive either ibuprofen 800 mg day ibuprofen (55 patients) or 2,000 mg turmeric (Curcuma domestica) per day (52 patients), for 6 weeks. The ibuprofen was divided into 2 doses of 400mg daily, and the turmeric into 4 doses of 500 mg daily.
The researchers measured pain on level walking, pain on stairs, and functions of knee assessed by time spent during 100-m walk and going...

Oral Lichen planus is difficult to treat and its causes are mysterious. A new study proves the ancient Ayurvedic remedy turmeric can heal oral lichen planus.

Oral Lichen planus is difficult to treat and its causes are mysterious. A new study proves the ancient Ayurvedic remedy turmeric can heal oral lichen planus.
Lichen planus can affect the face, the mouth, the hands and feet and practically any other skin surface of the body. It is difficult to treat and the cause is often mysterious. The lesions may continue for years or may periodically emerge – sometimes in different places.
Does nature provide a possible treatment? Quite possibly, at least for oral lichen planus.
Researchers from King George's Medical University in India studied 10 patients with chronic lichen planus for three months. The patients were given a turmeric ointment and applied the ointment onto the affected areas in and around the mouth twice a day for the three month period.
The patients were diagnosed and measured for thongprasom scores – which measures the amount of skin that the Lichen planus affects – before the study began and every 15 days during the study. The researchers also measured the patients' pain through VAS scores – the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), which graphically charts the amount of relative pain using questionnaires.
The turmeric ointment had dramatic results
After the first week, nine of the patients had "mild" clinical improvement and one had no improvement. After the second week, nine patients had moderate improvement and one had mile improvement. After the fourth week, nine of the patients had marked improvement and one had moderate...

31 Ways Turmeric Protects Against The Post-Industrial Chemical ApocalypseIn a world saturated through with toxic chemicals, this spice may provide life-saving protection!

Living in a post-industrial world awash in toxic chemicals this ancient healing spice may be the ultimate answer to regaining your health.
In a world increasingly saturated through with known cancer-causing toxicants, folks are understandably growing despondent. Thousands of petrochemicals are now found not only in our body care products, foods, and water and air, but also our bodies where they accumulate over time. Some of these chemicals are potent endocrine disrupters and even in exceedingly small concentrations can alter and disrupt a wide range of hormonally driven processes within our bodies.
An accumulating body of research now indicates that this class of chemicals -- endocrine disrupters -- challenges the conventional toxicological view that 'the dose makes the poison,' with smaller concentrations having disproportionately higher toxicity than was first anticipated when pre-approval toxicological risk assessments were first performed on them.
Roundup herbicide's main ingredient glyphosate, for instance, was recently found in a cell study to have estrogenic (and potentially carcinogenic) activity in the infinitesimal parts-per-trillion concentration range. This is all the more disturbing when you consider that the EPA is acting more like cheerleaders and less like regulators to Big Agra on the issue of how much we can be exposed to.
Parabens, a preservative found in most mainstream body care products and even some foods, was found in human breast tumor...

There is considerable experimental evidence that curcumin, the yellow pigment of turmeric, protects against age-related brain damage and in particular, Alzheimer’s disease.

The latest, and most likely, program theory of aging is the telomere shortening theory. Telomeres are the end-cap segments of DNA (our genetic material). Each time a cell replicates, a small piece of DNA is taken off the end of each chromosome. The shorter the telomere gets, the more it affects gene expression. The result is cellular aging and an increased risk for immune dysfunction, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other degenerative diseases.
New research shows that curcumin, the yellow pigment of turmeric (Curcuma longa), may exert significant benefit in preventing telomere shortening and may actually promote elongation of telomeres.
Background Information:
The key to slowing down the aging process and extending maximal human lifespan will ultimately involve preserving or restoring telomere length to the DNA (as well as decreasing chromosomal damage, cellular oxidation, and many other factors). Several measures have already been shown to achieve this goal:
Simply adopting a comprehensive dietary and lifestyle change consistent with good health has been shown to preserve telomere length.
Physical exercise has been shown to be associated with preserving telomere length.
Meditation has been shown to preserve telomere length by reducing the negative effects of stress.
Higher vitamin D levels are associated with longer telomeres
Since levels of inflammatory markers in the blood correlate with telomere shortening, natural strategies that...

Long considered impossible to attain, new research reveals how a simple spice might contribute to the regeneration of the damaged brain.

Long considered impossible to accomplish, new research reveals how a simple spice might contribute to the regeneration of the damaged brain.
Turmeric is hands down one of the, if not the, most versatile healing spice in the world with over 600 experimentally confirmed health benefits, and an ancient history filled with deep reverence for its seemingly compassionate power to alleviate human suffering.
But, most of the focus over the past decade has been centered on only one of its many hundreds of phytocompounds: namely, the primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin which gives the spice its richly golden hue. This curcumin-centric focus has lead to the development of some very good products, such as phospholipid bound curcumin concentrate (e.g. Meriva, BCM-95) which greatly helps to increase the absorption and bio-activity of curcumin. But, curcumin isolates are only capable of conferring a part of turmeric's therapeutic power – and therein lies the limitation and hubris of the dominant 'isolate the active ingredient' model.
Indeed, it has become typical within the so-called nutraceutical industry to emulate the pharmaceutical model, which focuses on identifying a particular "monochemical" tree within the forest of complexity represented by each botanical agent, striving to standardize the delivery of each purported 'active ingredient' with each serving, as if it were a pharmaceutical drug. These extraction and isolation processes also generates...

Chemical weapons cause excruciating, cruel and lasting bodily harm, but new research now shows turmeric extracts could provide significant relief from the pain and suffering caused by exposure to them.

Following closely in the wake of recent revelations that the U.S. government endangered their troops by hiding the discovery of chemical weapons in Iraq, new research shows that turmeric extract may provide an ideal natural intervention to relieve the pain and suffering of sulfur mustard-injured patients.
Recently, the New York Times revealed in an article titled, 'The Secret Casualties of Iraq's Abandoned Chemical Weapons,' that the U.S. government intentionally covered up U.S. troop exposure to chemical weapons in Iraq. You can read the redacted intelligence documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
According to the report:
"From 2004 to 2011, American and American-trained Iraqi troops repeatedly encountered, and on at least six occasions were wounded by, chemical weapons remaining from years earlier in Saddam Hussein's rule."
The government kept the discovery secret despite the fact that it endangered U.S. troops:
"The American government withheld word about its discoveries even from troops it sent into harm's way and from military doctors. The government's secrecy, victims and participants said, prevented troops in some of the war's most dangerous jobs from receiving proper medical care and official recognition of their wounds."
Ironically, the 'weapons of mass destruction' were built in close collaboration with the West. As reported by Dailykos.com:
"Virtually all of these weapons of mass destruction were from stockpiles established by...

Your spice rack may contain the safest, most fast-acting, brain-boosting substance medical science has yet to confirm effective in a human clinical study.

Your spice rack may contain the safest, most fast-acting, brain-boosting substance medical science has yet to confirm effective in a human clinical study.
A remarkable new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology titled, "Investigation of the effects of solid lipid curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population," reveals that the primary golden-hued polyphenol found in the ancient Indian healing spice turmeric known as curcumin is capable of improving cognition and mood in elderly adults (60-85) when administered in either short-term [acute], chronic, or short-term-on-chronic dosage schedules.
The study involving 60 healthy adults found that a single dose of 400 mg of a solid curcumin formulation (trade name Longvida® (non-affiliate link)) resulted only one hour later in significantly improved performance on sustained attention and working memory tasks, compared with placebo.
Additionally, a chronic treatment schedule (4 weeks) resulted in improvement in working memory and mood, the latter of which was defined as a positive change in their "state [of] calmness, contentedness and fatigue induced by psychological stress."
Finally, an acute-on-chronic treatment resulted in improved alertness and contentedness.
The authors commented that,
"To our knowledge this is the first study to examine the effects of curcumin on cognition and mood in a healthy older population or to examine any acute...

Bronchial asthma can be a life-threatening condition and even the medications used to treat it can be deadly. All the more reason why a new study on a turmeric extract safely improving the condition is so exciting.

Bronchial asthma can be a life-threatening condition and even the medications used to treat it can be deadly. All the more reason why a new study on a turmeric extract safely improving the condition is so exciting.
According to the World Health Organization, bronchial asthma afflicts between 100-150 hundred million people worldwide (roughly the equivalent of the Russian Federation.[i] The condition is believed responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually.[ii] I myself suffered from this condition from at least six months of age when I was first diagnosed until the age of 18 when it disappeared almost overnight.
I still remember routinely experiencing severe asthma attacks requiring emergency room visits and the injection of epinephrine to open up my constricted airway passages. It was not until college, when I started getting deep into nutrition and natural healing, that I discovered the complete elimination of cow's milk products like milk and cheese resulted in the total remission of my asthma, enabling me to leave behind the inhaler I used to tote around wherever I went. Interestingly, it was around six months of age that I was prematurely weaned off of breast milk onto cow's milk based formula. I suspect I am not an isolated case and that there are thousands of unsuspecting asthma patients who would benefit from removing cow's milk products (especially conventionally produced and beta casein alpha-1 containing forms) from their diet as well.
There are,...

New research indicates that the ancient spice turmeric may help to mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistant infections that the CDC recently estimated will take 23,000 U.S. lives each year.

New research indicates that the ancient spice turmeric may help to mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistant infections that the CDC recently estimated will take 23,000 U.S. lives each year.
A new study published in the journal Molecule indicates that the ancient Indian spice turmeric may help to countermand the growing threat of bacteria that have become completely resistant to conventional antibiotics and about which health organizations like the CDC have created great public alarm by calling them 'nightmare bacteria' against which they admit being completely impotent.
In two previous articles titled, "CDC's 'Bacteria of Nightmares': A Monstrosity Created by Outdated Theory and Practice," and, "CDC's 'Nightmare Bacteria' Reveals Need for Natural Medicine,"I describe how the rapid rise of antibiotic resistant 'super-germs' is a natural consequence of the now outdated germ-centric disease model (alongside the equally hoary antibiotic-centric treatment model) which not only overlooked the role of the inner terrain (e.g. microbiome, immunity, nutritional status) in determining susceptibility to infection but actively compromised and/or worsened it by relying exclusively on toxic chemical therapies which have neither the safety profile nor effectiveness of natural agents.
In the new study titled, "Curcumin Reverse Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus," researchers looked at the promising role the primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin plays in...

Turmeric may compensate for one of the plant-based diet's most heavily debated shortcomings: DHA omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.

The world's most extensively researched spice continues to prove itself capable of remarkable therapeutic properties, with the latest study showing it may compensate for one of the plant-based diet's most heavily debated shortcomings: DHA omega-3 fatty acid deficiency.
Turmeric May Boost Vegetarian Brain's Omega-3 (DHA) Levels, NIH Research Reveals
A fascinating new study on the golden-hued polyphenol found in turmeric root known as curcumin reveals a new mechanism by which this extensively studied phytocompound may alleviate cognitive disorders, especially in vegetarians and vegans.
In the National Institutes of Health funded study titled, "Curcumin boosts DHA in the brain: Implications for the prevention of anxiety disorders," researchers found that curcumin enhances the biosynthesis of the essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the rat brain. DHA deficiency is quite common and can have a wide range of adverse consequences to the optimal functioning of the brain. If this animal study's results are applicable to human physiology and metabolism, it may contribute significantly to validating the role of vegetarianism or a more plant-centric diet in human nutrition.
Curcumin has been the subject of over 7,000 published studies in the past 45 years, over 1500 of which can be found on the GreenMedInfo.com database showing its potential therapeutic value in over 600 health conditions, making it possibly the world's most important herbal compound.
According to...

Everyone now seems to know how good turmeric is for your body and mind, but how do you use it in cooking?

Published with permission from skinnychef.com
Everyone now seems to know how good turmeric is for your body and mind, but how do you use it in cooking?
When it comes to eating healthy, spices are many times overlooked. So if you want to supercharge the health benefits of the foods you're already eating while adding more interest to your meals, head to the spice rack.
In the spice world, turmeric is the gold standard when it comes to healing properties — both in Eastern and Western medicine. Sadly, few people know how to use it and make it taste delicious. For sure, it has a unique flavor that's not as approachable as cinnamon or some of the other spices you may be used too. It can range from fairly mild (white turmeric and turmeric from the Andes) to slightly bitter and astringent like the yellow Indian turmeric that you find in curry powder.
But even if you're not a huge fan of its taste, the great news is that turmeric pairs well with almost any other spice like cinnamon, black pepper, nutmeg, and ginger — and tends to be a bit of a chameleon based of the flavors you mix in!
Science And Holistic Tradition
The healing benefits of turmeric are well documented and in fact there are several compelling studies done in recent years on obesity in animal trials and diabetes in a small human trial.
In ancient Ayurveda, turmeric is considered a curative panacea and yogis to this day eat plenty of turmeric and even bath in it. Its astringent nature is prized for "...

The ancient Indian spice turmeric strikes again! A new study finds it is capable of selectively and safely killing cancer stem cells in a way that chemo and radiation can not.

The ancient Indian spice turmeric strikes again! A new study finds turmeric extract selectively and safely killing cancer stem cells in a way that chemo and radiation can not.
A groundbreaking new study published in the journal Anticancer Research reveals that one of the world's most extensively researched and promising natural compounds for cancer treatment: the primary polyphenol in the ancient spice turmeric known as curcumin, has the ability to selectively target cancer stem cells, which are at the root of cancer malignancy, while having little to no toxicity on normal stem cells, which are essential for tissue regeneration and longevity.
Titled, "Curcumin and Cancer Stem Cells: Curcumin Has Asymmetrical Effects on Cancer and Normal Stem Cells," the study describes the wide range of molecular mechanisms presently identified by which curcumin attacks cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are the minority subpopulation of self-renewing cells within a tumor colony, and which alone are capable of producing all the other cells within a tumor, making them the most lethal, tumoriogenic of all cells within most if not all cancers. Because CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy, radiation, and may even be provoked towards increased invasiveness through surgical intervention, they are widely believed to be responsible for tumor recurrence and the failure of conventional treatment.
Click to view
The study identified the following 8 molecular mechanisms by which curcumin targets and...

One small dose of turmeric powder was found to improve working memory in pre-diabetic patients.

One small dose of turmeric powder was found to improve working memory in pre-diabetic patients.
Interest in turmeric as a tonic and regenerative agent for brain conditions is growing rapidly. Given the increased prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, as well as an alarming uptick in brain cancer and the cognitively impairing metabolic dysregulations associated with type 2 diabetes.
Turmeric and its primary polyphenol curcumin hold great promise as an alternative to pharmaceuticals, none of which have been shown to address nor resolve the root causes of disease.
A recent study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition titled, "Turmeric improves post-prandial working memory in pre-diabetes independent of insulin", reveals the unique therapeutic profile of this ancient Indian spice in preventing cognitive impairment linked to pre-diabetes and dementia.
The study enrolled 48 60-year olds with newly recognized yet untreated pre-diabetes. They were randomized to receive either a placebo, turmeric (1,000 mg), cinnamon (2,000 mg) or both (1,000 mg & 2,000 mg respectively), ingested at a white bread (119 g) breakfast.
The researchers observed the participants' metabolic responses over a 6 hour period for the following parameters:
· Pre- and post-working memory (WM),
· Glycemic and insulin responses
· Biomarkers of Alzheimer'...

Imagine if an entirely edible source of white light could be generated with minimal environmental and human health impacts?

Can you imagine a computer or handheld device backlight or display of the future being lit up by a turmeric or pomegranate mixture? Imagine if an entirely edible source of white light could be generated with minimal environmental and human health impacts? The good news is that we no longer have to rely on our imagination. We now have the science to show it is indeed possible!
What could be more unnatural and yet indispensable in the modern world than a light bulb? Made from metal, glass, and a variety of petrochemicals, who would even consider looking for a "green" alternative? And if so, what would that be?
Now, a groundbreaking new study published in Scientific Reports seems to have found exactly such a green solution. Amazingly, Indian researchers discovered that a mixture of two commonly consumed edible plants, red pomegranate and turmeric, when exposed to light wavelengths just below the visible threshold (380 nm), produced almost pure white light emission (WLE).
This finding represents a simple, cheap and environmentally safe alternative to current LED technology, which presently rely on toxic materials, including heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, nickel, and lead, in their production.
In the new study titled "White Light Emission from Vegetable Extracts," Indian researchers described how they were able to conveniently tune the color temperature of the WLE by...

Oral turmeric extract (curcumin) in combination with light therapy produces remarkable healing results in patients with severe-to-moderate psoriasis.
Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent inflammatory skin condition characterized by itchy, dry, scaly plaques. Conventional treatment, which involves drugs and sometimes surgery, is often ineffective, leading many to search for alternative treatments. Many of these, however, have not been studied clinically and while working in some circumstances, may not be taken as seriously as so-called evidence-based natural interventions.
Thankfully, there are a number of natural interventions that have undergone conventional research protocols, over thirty of which can be viewed on our psoriasis research page. You will notice that curcumin, the primary polyphenol in turmeric, features high on the list, with four studies concerning its potential therapeutic value. Now, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial published in the European Journal of Dermatology has found that oral curcumin extract in combination with visible light therapy (phototherapy) is highly effective at improving the condition of adults with plaque psoriasis.
Titled, "Effects of Curcuma extract and visible light on adults with plaque psoriasis," European researchers conducted a trial with patients suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis. They received curcumin extract orally for 17 days, about 15 days of which...

Could our best bet against deadly viral infections like Ebola already be hiding in plain sight within our spice racks?

The global race for an Ebola drug or vaccine is on, with hundreds of millions of dollars of resources invested, but could our best bet already be hiding in plain sight within our spice racks?
A new study published in the journal In Vivo titled,"Curcumin Suppression of Cytokine Release and Cytokine Storm. A Potential Therapy for Patients with Ebola and Other Severe Viral Infections," has raised an intriguing possibility: that one of the world's most prized spices could provide an effective treatment against deadly viruses like Ebola that have no known conventional treatment to date.
Turmeric is about 3-5% curcumin by dry weight. It is one of the most extensively researched substances on the planet, with over 1540 studies available to view on our database alone. Amazingly, it has been identified to have potential or actual therapeutic value in over 600 health conditions. The discovery that it may also be an important anti-Ebola agent while new, is not surprising, given how profoundly it appears to ameliorate hundreds of causes of physical suffering, many of them associated with opportunistic infections with viruses, parasites and bacteria.
The study findings are summarized in the abstract succinctly:
Background: The terminal stage of Ebola and other viral diseases is often the onset of a cyotkine storm, the massive overproduction of cytokines by the body's immune system.
Materials and Methods: The actions of curcumin in suppressing cytokine...

What if the long sought after "cure" for diabetes was as safe, affordable, and accessible as a spice sitting in your kitchen cupboard?

What if the long sought after "cure" for diabetes was as safe, affordable, and accessible as a spice sitting in your kitchen cupboard?
Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can cure the patient with food."
-Hippocrates, 420 BC
Slowly but surely the world is waking up to the reality that diabetes is not only a preventable but a reversible condition, and that the drug-based model of symptom suppression and disease management has fatal flaws. For instance, some of the drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes actually increase the risk of death, with a recent study showing GMO insulin given to type 2 diabetics may lead to the development of so-called "double diabetes": type 2 and type 1 diabetes, together. Clearly, if medicine can't at least abide by its founding principle to "do no harm," it must seek the answer somewhere other than from the "chemist's pot."
As the pharmaceutically-driven medical paradigm continues to lose adherents by the droves, and the public seeks a system that identifies and resolves the root causes of disease, interest is growing in the use of natural substances and lifestyle modifications to prevent and treat blood sugar disorders. And unlike a few decades ago, where most of the evidence for "natural healing" was anecdotal, there are now thousands of studies on hundreds of natural substances and therapeutic activities that may ameliorate blood sugar disorders and their complications. You can check out a good portion of the relevant...

About one hundred times less toxic than chemotherapy, turmeric extract (curcumin) was found more effective at killing colorectal cancer stem cells from patients than a popular combination of conventional drugs.

About one hundred times less toxic than chemotherapy, turmeric extract (curcumin) was found more effective at killing colorectal cancer stem cells from patients than a popular combination of conventional drugs.
Researchers from the United Kingdom have just made a major breakthrough in cancer research by demonstrating for the first time in patient-derived colorectal cell lines that a turmeric extract (curcumin) is not only an effective adjunct agent to enhance conventional chemotherapy, but that it may be even more effective on its own.
Published this month in Cancer Letters and titled, "Curcumin inhibits cancer stem cell phenotypes in ex vivo models of colorectal liver metastases, and is clinically safe and tolerable in combination with FOLFOX chemotherapy," the study evaluated the so-called "diet-derived agent" curcumin -- the primary polyphenol in turmeric -- as a possible adjunct to enhance conventional treatment of colorectal cancer with chemotherapy.
click to view the full free study
The primary role of cancer stem cells in contributing to cancer malignancy as well as resistance to conventional treatment is addressed in the study. Whereas traditional cancer research methods focus on a treatment's ability to reduce tumor volume (or the number of cells in a cancer cell culture), the cancer stem cell theory acknowledges that treatments have highly differential effects on the different cell types that comprise the tumor; namely, whereas the relatively benign daughter...

How can one of the world's most extensively researched healing herbs be unilaterally denied a place in the conventional medical system as a means to alleviate suffering?

There are over 2,000 studies on the GreenMedInfo database demonstrating the power of turmeric to heal, but this time-tested, safe, and affordable healing substance still has not received FDA approval to "prevent, treat, or cure" disease despite the fact that it is capable of doing exactly that.
One of the greatest if not the greatest triumph of biomedical science today is its role in validating ancient healing modalities that long before the advent of science, and even recorded history itself, were passed down "orally" from generation to generation in the vast body of folkloric medical knowledge that still forms the basis for the majority of the world's primary health care system. These so-called "natural" or "alternative" modalities, which our species owes its present day survivorship to after eons of dependency on them, are increasingly gaining the attention of men and women in white lab coats intent on unlocking the mysteries of how they work, and in many cases, why they work better than patented, synthetic, chemical-based medications.
No better example of this today exists than turmeric...
Over the course of the past seven years, we have indexed over 2,000 studies investigating the health benefits of turmeric (or its components) in disease prevention and treatment, discovering an astounding 750 different diseases that it may be of value in ameliorating. The complexity of this substance in modulating over 150 biological pathways in the body, simultaneously,...

A groundbreaking new study found that turmeric extract is capable of turning the "bad" white fat cells in our body into the "good" brown ones, potentially providing a completely new approach to winning the battle of the bulge.

A groundbreaking new study published in Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry reveals that curcumin, a golden-hued compound in turmeric, may provide a unique solution for overweight individuals by altering the composition of fat cells in their bodies in favor of the calorie-burning type.
Obesity and overweight are global epidemics today, and are largely due to the now virtually universal Western type diet of highly processed, genetically modified, chemical contaminated, and evolutionarily incompatible foods, and which can have severe if not sometimes lethal adverse health effects.
Diet, however, is not the only contributing factor. Like all conditions, the problem is multi-factorial, with exposure to a host of endocrine disrupters, chronic stress, a dramatically altered and/or depleted microbiome, and a lack of sufficient movement and exercise, all playing key roles. Every year, billions of dollars are spent on weight loss gadgets, bariatric surgeries, and both synthetic and natural pills, and yet the problem only appears to be growing worse.
What if we could strike closer to the root causes of serious weight problems using something as familiar, affordable, and safe as a common spice on our spice rack?
Indeed, turmeric contains a golden-hued compound called curcumin which appears to be capable of changing "bad" fat cells into "good" ones, among a whole host of additional beneficial properties.
Know the Difference Between Brown and...

Many diabetics already know about the benefits of a low-glycemic diet, but why haven't they heard about turmeric, one of the world's most extensively researched anti-diabetic plants?

Many diabetics already know about the benefits of a low-glycemic diet, but why haven't they heard about turmeric, one of the world's most extensively researched anti-diabetic plants?
A recent literature review published in the International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism titled, "Anti-Hyperglycemic Effect and Insulin Sensitizing Effects of Turmeric and Its Principle Constituent Curcumin," adds promising new support to the notion that the ancient Indian spice turmeric may provide an ideal drug alternative to treating and perhaps even preventing type 2 diabetes, which has become of the world's most prevalent diagnoses.
The study reviewed research published between 1998 to 2013 that indicates the active polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin may provide an ideal intervention for type 2 diabetes, capable of mitigating characteristic pathophysiological hallmarks of the disease such as elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and insulin resistance.
Nineteen of the studies reviewed were cell (in vitro) and animal (in vivo), all which showed beneficial effects. Five of the studies were human clinical trials using turmeric or curcumin, three of which were performed in those with either diabetes or prediabetes.
Amazingly, the animal and cell research literature review concluded that curcumin could improve the type 2 diabetic state through 10 distinctly different mechanisms, such as:
Reduction in liver glucose production
Reduction in liver glycogen...

Could this ancient spice be superior to drugs for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

PMS afflicts millions of women each month, some with debilitating symptoms. Pain killers and antidepressants are standard treatments, both of which carry serious side effects. A new study finds turmeric extract may be superior in addressing some of the root causes of the disorder.
A new study published in the journal Neuropeptides titled, "Effect of curcumin on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in women with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial," has revealed that the primary polyphenol in turmeric known as curcumin is capable of improving symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), including increasing an important hormone in the nervous system called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and which is known to undergo significant decreases in women who suffer from challenging PMS cycles.
Millions of women take pain-killers to reduce PMS symptoms without realizing NSAIDs like ibuprofen can have life threatening adverse effects, including thousands of heart attacks each year. Also, aspirin is far more dangerous than the public has been told, with evidence-based alternatives like pycnogenol going almost completely unacknowledged. Tylenol is not only one of the most dangerous drugs for the liver, leading one health advocate to suggest the FDA should pull it from the market, but has also only recently been found to have psychiatric effects by numbing emotional states. Clearly we need safer...

A new study validates a controversial cancer theory, namely, that yeast in our body can contribute to not just feeding, but actually causing cancer. Can the ancient healing spice turmeric come to the rescue?

Yeast Is A Cause of Cancer And Turmeric Can Kill Both, Research Confirms
A new study validates a controversial cancer theory, namely, that yeast in our body can contribute to not just feeding, but actually causing cancer. Can the ancient healing spice turmeric come to the rescue?
A recent study published in Critical Reviews in Microbiology lends support to the concept that opportunistic Candida albicans (yeast) infection may not just be a consequence of cancer, but is an actively contributing cause as well.
Titled, "Candida albicans and cancer: Can this yeast induce cancer development or progression?", the study provided the following important background information on this controversial subject:
There is currently increasing concern about the relation between microbial infections and cancer. More and more studies support the view that there is an association, above all, when the causal agents are bacteria or viruses. This review adds to this, summarizing evidence that the opportunistic fungus Candida albicans increases the risk of carcinogenesis and metastasis. Until recent years, Candida spp. had fundamentally been linked to cancerous processes as it is an opportunist pathogen that takes advantage of the immunosuppressed state of patients particularly due to chemotherapy. In contrast, the most recent findings demonstrate that C. albicans is capable of promoting cancer by several mechanisms, as described in the review: production of carcinogenic byproducts,...

Spinal cord injury can have devastating, and often irreversible effects. Conventional treatment relies on steroid drugs and surgery with lackluster results. What if an extract of turmeric works better and is safer?

Spinal cord injury can have devastating, and often irreversible effects. Conventional treatment relies on steroid drugs and surgery with lackluster results. What if an extract of turmeric works better and is safer?
A promising new study published in Neurology Research International titled, “The Potential of Curcumin In Treatment of Spinal Cord Injury,” suggests that the ancient Indian spice turmeric, and its primary polyphenol curcumin, may provide victims of spinal cord injury (SCI) a safer and more effective approach than conventional treatment which relies primarily on surgery and corticosteroids, a class of anti-inflammatory drugs notorious for adverse health effects.
Curcumin has been validated in hundreds of studies to have immense value in treating a wide range of inflammatory-based diseases. You can use the GreenMedInfo curcumin research portal to view the primary literature on the topic, where you will find over 200 studies demonstrating curcumin's potent anti-inflammatory properties.
The GreenMedInfo.com Research Dashboard: Curcumin
Despite this wealth of already published research demonstrating curcumin’s powerful anti-inflammatory properties, the new study was the first to systematically review all the available data on curcumin’s effect’s on spinal cord injury, enabling a clearer picture of its value in relationship to standard therapies. The study quickly points out curcumin’s potential superiority vis-à-vis corticosteroids:
Because all studies...

No single herb threatens the pharmaceutical industry's global monopoly as much as turmeric. Here's why...

No single herb threatens the pharmaceutical industry's global monopoly as much as turmeric. Here's why...
Turmeric has received a lot of attention in the past few years. The reason has everything to do with the power of social media to undercut traditional pharmaceutical industry controlled media channels, along with the reality that the available published literature that has accumulated on turmeric’s health benefits is astoundingly vast. The open access database MEDLINE, for instance, now contains over 10,000 study abstracts on turmeric and/or its components, such as the polyphenol known as curcumin. Our intention at GreenMedInfo.com is to save you time looking through these thousands of studies by putting all the relevant ones to natural and integrative medicine in one spot. In the case of the burgeoning volume of turmeric and curcumin literature, that spot is our Turmeric Research dashboard.
Previously, we wrote an article titled “600 Reasons Turmeric May Be The World’s Most Important Herb,” which received a quarter of a million social media shares and many more views. Since then, the Greenmedinfo database on turmeric has grown to encompass 800 distinct potential health benefits linked to this ancient Indian spice. This is all the more amazing when you consider the fact that most pharmaceutical drugs are marketed for one major health benefit, but come with about 75 known side effects. Take a look at our article showing curcumin as effective as 14...

Could turmeric extract become the next "aspirin" in the ongoing effort to prevent heart disease?

Turmeric: Better Than Aspirin For Heart Disease Prevention?
In a day and age where people identify heart disease prevention strategies with consuming what are essentally toxic chemicals like aspirin and statin drugs, it is refreshing to see clinical research being done on the powerfully cardioprotective properties of time-tested and much safer spices.
A compelling new study published in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism has found that a daily dose of a novel form of turmeric extract (curcumin) significantly improved the functional state of the blood vessels of healthy adults within two months.
The randomized, controlled, double-blind parallel prospective study involved fifty-nine healthy adults who were assigned to either a placebo, 50 mg (50 mg), or 200 mg (200 mg) curcumin, for 8 weeks.
The study provided background on what is believed to be a primary underlying cause of cardiovascular disease, namely, the inability of the inner lining of blood vessels (endothelium) to dilate fully as a consequence of mostly symptomless damage that can start early in life:
“Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are often asymptomatic and can begin as early as childhood [1]. A putative mechanism leading to CVD is damage to the vascular endothelium, a monolayer of cells which releases antiatherosclerotic molecules, most notably including nitric oxide [2]. Endothelial function can be measured as a decreased flow-mediated dilation (FMD)...

It’s estimated that 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, but pain-killers can have serious side effects. Here's why turmeric may provide an ideal alternative.

Turmeric: Orange Is The New Black For Pain
America is in pain. It’s estimated that 100 million of us live with chronic pain, which far exceeds the 60 million people living with cancer, heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Pain exacts a physical, psychological, emotional and often, financial toll on each victim and is an expensive public health problem. Conventional solutions available for treatment are costly, have limited efficacy, and risk serious side effects including addiction. Widely available over-the-counter (OTC) pain killers are labeled with strongly worded language listing dangers, and many of the prescription versions now carry a black box warning, the highest level of caution issued by the FDA for drugs found to have serious and/or life threatening risks. Consumers seeking safe, effective analgesic alternatives are turning to turmeric, making orange the new black for pain.
There are six FDA approved oral analgesic categories, each with specifics risks and benefits:
1. Acetaminophen, the most popular over-the-counter analgesic in the US, is effective for mild to moderate pain. It has a low margin of safety and overdose complications can easily occur beyond the recommended maximum of 4 grams/day. Risks include liver damage which can lead to death. Acetaminophen is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the US, and combining it with alcohol or drugs that are metabolized in the liver, raises the risk of toxicity. The FDA has continuously upgraded...

Tired of turmeric latte sipping hipsters and health nuts lauding the anecdotal health benefits of this legendary golden spice, the Mainstream Media strikes back with the anvil of hard Science (capital "S")...

Forbes Leads Media Attack Against Turmeric's Health Benefits
Tired of turmeric latte sipping hipsters and health nuts lauding the anecdotal health benefits of this legendary golden spice, the Mainstream Media strikes back with the anvil of hard Science (capital "S")...
Forbes just published an op-ed titled, “Everybody Needs To Stop With This Turmeric Molecule,” intended to warn consumers and scientists alike that curcumin (the primary polyphenol in turmeric), and presumably turmeric itself, is a “waste of time and money.”
What is their seeming unequivocal conclusion based on? According to the assessment of Forbes writer Sam Leminick, a new paper published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry entitled, The Essential Medicinal Chemistry of Curcumin, reveals:
“...there’s really no evidence that curcumin (and a couple related compounds lumped in for convenience) does anything for you health-wise.”
What Mr. Leminick is referring here to as “evidence,” or the lack thereof, is the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, human clinical trial (RCT). The RCT has become the epistemiological holy grail of Scientism and the Medical Monotheism it informs. In this belief system, it doesn’t matter if something has had cross-cultural validation as a healing agent, even after thousands of years of safe human use; nor does it matter if you personally have experienced (N-of-1) direct and measurable health benefits from consuming it. This is essentially a pyramidal control...

The turmeric compound curcumin has been found to inhibit a number of significant viruses, including zika virus, hepatitis, herpes, chikungunya virus, influenza-A, HIV and HPV.

Originally Posted on Heal Naturally.
The turmeric compound curcumin has been found to inhibit a number of significant viruses, including zika virus, hepatitis, herpes, chikungunya virus, influenza-A, HIV and HPV.
Turmeric has been used as a medicinal food for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine. I have discussed its ability to slow cancer growth, help prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, help resolve Lichen Panus, and reduce type-2 diabetes.
More recently, research has confirmed that the central medicinal compound in turmeric – curcumin – blocks the growth of the zika virus, hepatitis, herpes, chikungunya virus, influenza-A, HIV and HPV.
These are all serious viruses. Collectively, they affect hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Some of these viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes. For example, zika and the chikungunya viruses are transmitted by the Aedes species of mosquito. Last year, researchers found that zika is linked with birth defects such as microcephaly. Zika virus has recently spread from South and Central America into Southern states in the U.S., including Texas and Florida.
The chikungunya virus is also spreading in South and Central America. This virus will cause joint pain, high fevers, rashes and sometimes even death.
There are no vaccines for either zika or chikungunya viruses. There are also no real treatments either.
One of the problems with these viruses is due to the viral cell being enveloped. They have...

This website is for information purposes only. By providing the information contained herein we are not diagnosing, treating, curing, mitigating, or preventing any type of disease or medical condition. Before beginning any type of natural, integrative or conventional treatment regimen, it is advisable to seek the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.